Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-12-01


screwed the lid of the jar, and with an oil
spoon, worn thin with long usage, she teste
the sweetness of the contents
Jest like them mother used 10 boil dow
with molasses when was n gal, she said
Il could most fancy | was gal agin, Il
the old plum time a-cuttin across the lot
with my sun bonnet hitehed on by ON
string, and the red dog caperin AT my heels
WAL, waal Ii don't seem like l was clos
on seventy years Of age
Miss Anastasia Ind some Of the wild pluI
sauce with her scanty dinner IL gave il
relish She ate some more with bread an'
cheese for her supper.
Il never did taste nothin' that went TO tn
right spot like them plums,' said she. Il
ain't cause they're relishin'-it's cause the!
make me feel like was ont in Wisconsin
with the sassafras leaves turnin' yaller,
aud the wind BLOWN in my face
Leah did not know until a neighbor'
boy brought back the jar neatly wrapped IL
a newspaper, what treat she had afforded
her neighbor.
|
It's the jar that had the wild plum sass
in it, said Willie. Miss Aheriy says shes
much obliged-and she gave me a ginger
cookey for bringing il back, she did
Father said Leah, reproachfully, to the
old man, this is thy doings. Thee isalways
thinking of some one else.
1T has done me more good than ii | bad
eaten IL myself, Leah said Friend Decker,
alphabetically.
Leah ran TO him and gave him hug.
Thee is an old darling, father, said she,
and thee makes me ashamed of my own
| temper sometimes
She put the jar on the top shelf of the
little pantry, and never thought anything
more about il till one day when she wanted
| "A jar To put fresh cranberries i'm. She was
in hurry for Miss Anastasia Akerly was
TO be buried that afternoon. She died as
she had lived, sitting alone before the fire,
and this was the day they had appointed
for her funeral
Friend Decker had expressed desire 10
attend the obsequies of the kinswoman, who
had been so little 10 him, and Leah was hur.
rying through her work so she might brush
the well-worn suit and take a much-needed
stitch in the coarse worsted gloves.
As she tore OFF the newspaper wrappings
she stopped suddenly.
Father, she cried here is piece of thick,
yellowish paper rolled up and put inside
this jar that came from Friend Anastasia's
What does thee suppose il is Father IL is
will "
She ran eagerly with it to Friend Decker.
He looked dubiously at the outside.
Thee is right, Leah, said he, Friend
Anastasia's heart has softened towards us
This is doubtless the will she mentioned
the will in favor of Moses Sawyer She has
sent it 10 us 10 destroy. Nay, daughter,
nay as Leah eagerly caught it up and
fastened toward the fire. Give il TO me. 1t
is not for us 10 make or meddle. II Friend
->.-----.-.-i-.- s.sishcd the will DESTROYED she
should have done il herself. I shall take it
back TO Friend Johnson, the executor
Father, cried Leah, thee would not give
him the will p
Does thee think il would be an honorable
thing TO destroy it, Leah
If she wanted us to do so, father
But we have no right TO presume any
thing of the sort, daughter, reasoned Friend
Decker, buttoning il up under his coat.
Nay, nay, do not fret For Leah, over
come by the sudden blaze of hope, and the
after blackness of despair, had burst into n
flood of tears. 1t will be well with us, never
fear
Judge Johnson, the great man Of the
neighborhood, received the papers with some
surprise.
December sixth he read. Hum this
is the latest document she has executed.
oh, yes / remember il very well drew
it up myself But why did you bring it here
Friend Decker.
The old man briefly related the circum-
stances.
'Old people are apt TO be capricious,' said
plum sauce pleased her and she sought TO
reward us. But l should never take adj
vantage of Friend Moses by burning the
will
But why in the name of common sense
should you burn il q said the judge. Are
you in the habit of having estates left to
you every day, that you dispose of them so
readily? p
Il don't think 1 quite understand thee,
Friend johnson, said Decker.
But Leah's face frightened like rose.
4 see see = she cried Father, Friend
Auastasia has done right, late though 1t be.
She has willed the Lennox farm to thee
And Leah spoke truly. The dead woman
made tardy reparation in her last legal pos
sessions of what should long ago have been
their own. No amount of reasoning or ro-
monstrance had availed, but one of those
sudden touches, which, striking the cleo
trio chain wherewith we're darkly bound,
sway the soul with disproportionate force
had induced her to perform an act of justice
at last, and the jar of wild plums, with its
train of associations. had been the most ell
oquent pleading of all.